GB2229404A

GB2229404A - Commercial vehicle roof

Info

Publication number: GB2229404A
Application number: GB8927402A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Lyn Morgan; Philip William Morgan
Original assignee: L P H PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: L P H PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1988-12-07
Filing date: 1989-12-04
Publication date: 1990-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-04
Also published as: GB2229404B; GB8828604D0; GB8927402D0

Abstract

The roof 11 comprises a flexible sheet 16 which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body between a closed condition and an open condition which permits access for a load to be lifted into or out of the interior of the vehicle body. The panel is connected along its length to spaced tubes 18a which are telescopically connected to lugs 18b on brackets 25 movable along respective tracks 23 provided on the longitudinal edges of the roof. The tubes 18a have a limited range of telescopic movement relative to their respective brackets to compensate for bowing of the tracks 23 or for variations in the spacing thereof. The cross members 15 which interconnect the side members 13 of the roof may be pivoted to an out of the way position to further facilitate loading/unloading of the vehicle body. <IMAGE>

Description

Commercial vehicle roof This invention relates to roofs for commercial vehicles, such a lorries, trucks or articulated trailers.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a commercial vehicle roof which comprises a panel which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body between a closed condition in which said panel covers substantially the entire length of the vehicle body, and an open condition which permit. access for a load to be lifted into or out of the interior of the vehicle body. said panel being connected along its length to a plurality of spaced elongate members arranged transversely to said vehicle body, which elongate members are connected to opposed end portions adapted to be movable in said longitudinal direction along respective track members provided on the longitudinal edges of the roof, said elongate members further having a range of movement relative to their respective end portions transverse to the vehicle body.

The longitudinal movement of the panel may be from the front towards the rear. and/or from the rear towards the front.

The panel conveniently comprises a sheet of flexible material which is arranged to form into parallel folds when opened.

The elongate members may be located in transverse sleeves formed in the sheet.

Preferably the elongate members are provided with formations for sliding engagement with complementary formations provided on respective end portions.

Advantageously, the elongate members may be in the form of hollow bars. in which case their respective end portions may be provided with projecting formations arranged to slidingly engage with the opposed hollow ends of a respective bar.

It is preferred that the track members are of channel section in which case the end portions are advantageously provided with wheels or rollers arranged to run along respective track members.

Conveniently, the channel section is inverted with the edges thereof turned inwardly towards each other and upwardly to form two parallel grooves. each of said end portions having a roller unit which includes four rollers. two of which run in each of the grooves.

Preferably the end portions are provided with laterally downwardly extending limbs. which portions are arranged in use to extend outwardly in relation to the vehicle body.

Advantageously the limbs may extend into a walled gutter section located outwardly adjacent to or abutting respective track members.

It is further preferred that fastening means are provided on the end portions for fastening engagement with the panel.

The track members may comprise or be attached to the frame of the roof. The frame may further include transverse elements. the transverse element at one end of the roof preferably being removable. for example by being hinged to a longitudinal side member of the roof at one end and detachably secured to another longitudinal side member at the other end of the transverse element.

Preferably one or more such transverse elements intermediate the ends of the roof are similarly removable; preferably such transverse elements all along the length of the roof are removable in this way.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a commercial vehicle incorporating a roof according to the invention.

One embodiment of the invention is described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view looking downward and rearward. of part of a vehicle having a roof according to the invention: Figure 2 is a perspective upward view. at enlarged scale, of part of the vehicle roof shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective upward view of part of the roof shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlarged cut-away view of part of the roof shown in Figure 3: Figures 5. 6 and 7 show other parts of the roof shown in Figure 1; and Figures 8 and 9 show details of a preferred embodiment of a roof according to the ivention.

In the drawings. a load-carrying part of a commercial vehicle. such as a lorry, truck or articulated trailer. has a load-carrying floor 10 covered by a roof 11 supported on spaced uprights 12.

The roof 11 includes a pair of parallel rigid side members 13. joined across the front by a fixed cross member 14.

The side members 13 are further spaced by openable cross-members 15 located at intervals along the length of the roof 11, and across the back of the roof 11, if required.

Vehicles of this general type are often provided with an openable rear and with openable side curtains. through which loads can be placed onto the floor 10 by fork-lift trucks or the like. However. for loads which are particularly heavy or bulky. such as coils of steel strip. it would be more convenient to lower the load onto the floor 10, and to remove it therefrom, by means of a crane.

For this purpose. provision is made for opening the roof 11. The roof Ii is made of a sheet of flexible material 16, such as sheet plastics or rubber impregnated cloth, having parallel transverse sleeves sleeves 17 spaced along the underside thereof.

A rigid metal tube 18a extends through each sleeve 17. Projecting lugs 18b provided on the inner surface of brackets 25 locate within opposed ends of respective tubes 18a, such that each tube 18a has a limited range of movement in its longitudinal direction.

In order that a crane can place a load onto the floor 10. the cross-members 15 are pivotted at one end to one of the uprights 12 and at the other end can be entered into a channel piece 19 on the opposite upright 12, and locked there by a spring-loaded bolt 20. entered into a loop 21 on the channel 19 by a handle 22. as shown in Figure 2.

The tubes 18 travel back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, as the roof 11 is opened and closed. along a pair of parallel tracks 23, each fastened on the top of the side members 13. Each track 23 is of inverted Usection with edges 24 thereof turned inwardly and upwardly to form two parallel grooves. Each bracket 25 extends up the inner face of the track 23. over the top. down the outer face thereof and up through the slot between the edges 24. The upright parts 26 of the bracket 25 carry spindles 27 on each side on which four rollers 28 are mounted. to run in the grooves of the track 23.

The flexible material of the roof 11 extends over the tracks 23 and the side members 13 and is secured to bracket 25.

The end tubes 18c engage on spigots 29 protruding from the side members 13. the front tube 18 being divided at the centre and located and tensioned by a tension box 30, fixed to the front cross member 14 and operated by a handle 31.

Thus the roof 11 can be opened from front and/or from the rear. as required. Since each metal tube 18a has a limited range of movement in its longitudinal direction on the lugs 18b, any bowing of the tracks 23 along their length or slight variations in the seperation of the pair of tracks 23 is compensated for.

Figures 8 and 9 show a preferred arrangement of tracks 23 and brackets 25. In this case each track 23 is again of inverted U-section with edges 24 turned inwardly and upwardly to form parallel grooves. with rollers 28 mounted to run in the grooves as above. However each bracket 25 additionally has an outwardly extending portion 32. which is arranged to project downwardly into a longitudinal trough 33 fitted to the track member 23 on its outer most edge. Each outwardly extending portion has a fastening member 34 located on its upper surface which in use secures the flexible sheet 16 to the respective bracket 25.

In use. rainwater falling on the sheet 16 runs off the sheet into the troughs 33 and then drains through holes (not shown) provided in the bases 35 of the trough 33.

Claims

I. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a commercial vehicle roof which comprises a panel whioh is movable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body between a closed condition in which said panel covers substantially the entire length of the vehicle body. and an open condition which permits access for a load to be lifted into or out of the interior of the vehicle body. said panel being connected along its length to a plurality of spaced elongate members arranged transversely to said vehicle body. which elongate members are connected to opposed end portions adapted to be movable in said longitudinal direction along respective track members provided on the longitudinal edges of the roof. said elongate members further having a range of movement relative to their respective end portions transverse to the vehicle body.
2. A commercial vehicle roof according to claim 1. wherein the panel comprises a sheet of flexible material which is arranged to form into parallel folds when opened.
3. A commercial vehicle roof according to claim 2. wherein the elongate members are located in transverse sleeves formed in the sheet.
4. A commercial vehicle roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the elongate members are provided with formations for sliding engagement with complementary formations provided on their respective end portions.
5. A commercial vehicle roof according to any preceding claim.

wherein the elongate members are in the form of hollow bars. and their respective end portions are provided with projecting formations arranged to slidingly engage with the opposed hollow ends of a respective bar.
6. A commercial vehicle roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the track members are of channel section and the end portions are provided with wheels or rollers arranged to run along respective track members.
7. A commercial vehicle roof according to claim 6, wherein the channnel section is inverted with the edges thereof turned inwardly towards one another and upwardly to form two parallel grooves. each of said end portions having a roller unit which includes four rollers. two of which run in each of the grooves.
8. A commercial vehicle roof according to any preceding claim, wherein said end portions are provided with laterally downwardly extending limbs. which portions are arranged in use to extend outwardly in relation to the vehicle body.
9. A commercial vehicle roof according to claim 8, wherein the limbs extend into a walled gutter section located outwardly adjacent to or abutting respective track members.
10. A commercial vehicle roof according to any preceding claim, wherein fastening means are provided on the end portions for engagement with the panel.
11. A commercial vehicle roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the track members comprise or are attached to the frame roof.
12. A commercial vehicle roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame of the roof further includes transverse elements. the transverse element at one end of the roof being removable.
13. A commercial vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said removable transverse element is hinged to a longitudinal side member of the roof at one end and detachably secured to another longitudinal side member at the other end of said transverse element.
14. A commercial vehicle roof according to claim 12 or 13, wherein one or more transverse elements intermediate the ends of the roof are similarly removable:
15. A commercial vehicle incorporating a roof according to any preceding claim.
16. A commercial vehicle roof substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.